Marko Mitrovic’s Revolution have been a revelation for much of this season, looking to have turned the page from the groups that missed the MLS playoffs each of the past two years.
Their primary issue was a lack of finishing around the goal. For the second straight contest, Mitrovic’s group showed they could still use more help in that department.
Toronto FC won for the first time since April, 2-1, on Saturday night at BMO Field. A deflected Theo Corbeanu shot ruled an own goal on New England’s Will Sands put the hosts ahead in the 43rd minute, and a 25-yard blast from Niklas Dorsch on the final kick of the first half proved the game-winner.
The scoreline came despite the Revolution (9-7-3, 30 points) holding 65 percent of the possession and a 24-3 edge in shots. New England was credited for 50 touches in the penalty area of Toronto (3-8-8, 20 points), but couldn’t find the back of the net until the 90th minute, when Jordan Harris headed home a cross from new designated player Jack Harrison.
That goal came with Toronto down to 10 men, Djordje Mihailovic given a straight red card for a late slide at Carles Gil in the 76th minute. Despite furious New England pressure, though, the hosts held on, breaking a run in which they’d gone 0-6-7 in all competitions.
The Revolution attack was without Leo Campana, Luca Langoni, and Ilay Feingold due to injury, and Peyton Miller was subbed off in the 40th minute for a suspected concussion. Tracking a Harrison cross in the 35th, he ran forehead-first into the back of Richie Laryea’s head, requiring a head wrap to stem bleeding.
Miller, the teenage star from Connecticut, again had one of the Revolution’s best chances in the opening minutes. Alone in the penalty area in the fifth, Miller settled a Gil corner with his chest, then ripped a leaping left-footed volley that forced a diving save from Toronto’s Luka Gavran.
Harrison, who debuted as a late substitute in last Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Houston, played the full 90 minutes and showed why he’s the team’s highest-profile signing of the transfer window. The 29-year-old was credited with creating five scoring chances and 18 crosses, the latter three times that of any other player.
He nearly did the scoring himself, firing into the top of the net in the 18th minute and only denied by a sprawling Josh Sargent in the 62nd near the penalty spot.
Corbeanu, however, put the hosts ahead against the run of play, challenging Sands to Matt Turner’s left, his shot squirting over the goalkeeper’s foot after caroming off Sands’s leg. Dorsch’s, in contrast, was a no doubter, a screamer to the top corner highlighting the 28-year-old’s first MLS start.
Jon Couture can be reached at jonathan.couture@globe.com.